curtis



2 Sheets Sheet 1.

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' (No Model.) 2 Sheets- -Sheet 2 0. G. CURTIS.

v ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE. No. 595,435. Patented Dec. 14, 1897.

WITNESSES: Gyf

4: Ins A/torney? UNTTED STATES CHARLES G. CURTIS,

PATENT Ornicn.

OF YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE CURTIS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELASTIC-FLUID TURBINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,435, dated December14, 1897. Application filed August 4, 1896. Serial No. 601,603. (Nomodel.)

in speed may be effected without great variations in the efficiency ofoperation. This I accomplish by constructing and arranging thefluid-passages of the turbine and their connections in such a way thatthe elastic fluid may be caused to traverse the movable vanes a greateror less number of times in succession. With a definite speed of rotationof the movable vanes and a definite total velocity developed in theelastic fluid the passage of the elastic fluid through the movable vanesa certain number of times is required to absorb substantially all thevelocity developed and convert it into mechanical motion, but if thespeed of the vanes be increased or decreased the number of passagesrequired to extract substantially all the velocity developed will besmaller or greater. Therefore by varying the number of times that theelastic fluid is caused to act upon the movable vanes the speed ofrevolution of the turbine may be varied without materially altering theefficiency of operation. The turbine may have a single set of movablevanes, through which the elastic fluid will be passed avariable numberof times in succession, or the same result may be accomplished inaturbine having two or more sets of movable vanes; but I prefer toconstruct the turbine with a number of sets of movable vanes, eachinclosed in a separate fluid-tight shell, the number of separate sets ofvanes corresponding with the maximum number of fluidpassages required,and by means of these several sets of vanes and suitable nozzles andconnecting-passages I propose to convert the pressure of the elasticfluid into velocity and transformthe velocity into mechanical motion bystages, the number of expansion stages belng varied while maintainingpractically the same total expansion.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a section through the rotatingvanes and the successive nozzles of one form of the apparatus; and Fig.2 is a similar view, largely in outline, of a modification of theapparatus.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, A, B, O, and D are rotating Wheelscarrying vanes, forming vane-passages which are inclosed in separatefluid-tight shells E, F, G, and H, the general plan of the elastic-fluidturbine being such as is described in Patent No. 566,969, issued to meSeptember 1, 1896. These four Wheels are mounted on a common shaft andformelements of one turbine. I, J, K, and L are a series ofexpansion-nozzles delivering the elastic fluid to the several wheels insuccession. M is the pipe from the steam-boiler or other source ofelastic fluid under pressure,

and N, O, P, and Q are the exhaust-openings for the several wheels,placed opposite the discharging ends of the respective nozzles. Theexhaust-passages N O P are intermediate stationary passages or conduitswhich lead the elastic fluid from the wheels A, B, andO, respectively,to the nozzles J, K, and L. The passages N, O, and P are connected bypipes R S T, provided with suitable valves, With the exhaust, whethercondensing or atmospheric. Each of the nozzles I, J, K, and L has anadjustable piece U, forming one side of the expansion-nozzle and servingto change the angle of divergence of the nozzle and the ratio ofconversion of pressure into velocity. The adjusting devices for movingthe pieces U maybe connected together and operated simultaneously, orthey may be operated independently, as shown. sion-nozzles is alsoprovided with an adj ustable tongue V, forming one of the divergingsides of the nozzle, which by its adjustment is adapted to vary thecross-sectional area of the nozzle Without varying the ratio ofexpansion, so as to make the nozzle larger or smaller to adapt it tocarry the volume of the elastic fluid which it may be required to carryunder the different conditions of operation, which volume will begreater or less according to Whether the total expansion is produced ina lesser or greater number of nozzles. To secure the lowest rate ofspeed, the valves in the exhaust-pipes R, S, and T Each of the expan-'are closed and the elastic fluid is caused to pass through the fourwheels A, B, C, and D. The pieces U of the four nozzles are adjusted soas to produce at the discharging end of each nozzle practically the samevelocity, the tongues V being also adjusted to provide the propercross-sectional area, thus converting the pressure into velocity andextracting it in four stages. If a higher rate of speed is desired, theexhaust-pipe T is opened, thus cutting out the wheel D and causing thefluid to act upon three wheels only. The pieces U of the three nozzlesI, J, and K are now adjusted to convert the pressure into velocity inthree stages, and the tongues V of these nozzles being drawn backsufficiently to give the increased cross-sectional areas over thatrequired when the four nozzles are employed. Under these circumstancesthe velocity produced by each nozzle will be greater than in the case offour nozzles and the speed of the wheels will be greater. Likewise, ifthe exhaust-pipe S is opened only two wheels will be in action, and thenozzles I and J will be adjusted to give the proper conversion ofpressure into velocity and the proper cross-sectional area, securing ineach instance a higher velocity than with three nozzles. Likewise, ifthe exhaust-pipe R is opened only the wheel A will be acted on by thefluid and the nozzle I will be adjusted so as to convert practically allthe available pressure into velocity and to give the propercross-section for the fluid-jet.

In Fig. 2 trated; but four separate sets of passages through thesewheels are employed, each set of passages being proportioned to give theproper conditions of operation. The series of nozzles andconnecting-passages to the right of the figure connect the four wheelsin succession, giving the proper conversion of pressure into velocity ateach wheel. The next set of passages to the left connects the threewheels in succession, giving a greater production of velocity for eachwheel. The next set of passages to the left connects two wheels insuccession, giving a still greater conversion of pressure into velocityfor each wheel, and the last nozzle to the left acts only upon one wheeland is proportioned to convert substantially all the pressure intovelocity. Each of the sets of nozzles is connected with the steam-boileror other source of elastic fluid under pressure by a conduit or pipewhich is provided with a suitable throttlevalve, and the intermediatepassages connectin g the wheels also have valves to prevent the the samefour wheels are illus-' fluid in the shells from escaping through otherthan intended passages.

\Vhat I claim is 1. An elastic-fluid turbine provided with controllablepassages whereby the elastic fluid may be caused to act upon movablevanes a greater or less number of times in succession so as to securedifferent rates of speed economically, substantially as set forth.

2. An elastic-fluid turbine wherein the pressure of the elastic fluid isconverted by expansion into velocity, and the velocity converted intomechanical motion, by stages, such turbine being provided with means forvarying the number of expansion stages while maintaining practically thesame total expansion, so as to obtain diiferent speeds economically,substantially as set forth.

In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combination with two or more sets ofrotating vanes, of passages whereby the elastic fluid may be passedthrough different numbers of movable vanes in succession and dilferentrates of speed may be secured, substantially as set forth.

4. In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combination with a number ofrotating wheels, of expansion nozzles or passages delivering the fluidto the wheels in succession, and connections whereby the fluid may bedelivered to different numbers of such wheels, substantially as setforth.

5. In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combination of a number of rotatingwheels and a number of expansion-nozzles delivering the elastic fluid tothe several wheels in series or succession, such nozzles beingadjustable to vary their cross-sectional area and also to vary the ratioof conversion of pressure into velocity, and exhaust connections fromeach wheel,whereby the number of wheels through which the fluid ispassed may be varied and the speed changed, substantially as set forth.

6. In an elastic-fluid turbine, the combination of two or more wheels A,B, &c., two o1 more expansion-nozzles I, J, &c., having adjustablepieces U for varying the ratio of expansion and tongues V for varyingthecrosssectional area of the nozzles, one or more connecting-passagesN, &c., and one or more exhaust connections R, &c., substantially as setforth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 30th day of July, 1896.

CHARLES G. CURTIS. \Vitnesses:

EUGENE CONRAN, J NO. R. TAYLOR.

